Press Release

CONCORD – Governor-elect Maggie Hassan and Department of Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes jointly announced today that they will name Perry Plummer, Director of the Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services and former Dover Fire Chief, to serve as Acting Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to replace outgoing Director Christopher Pope, who is stepping down as Director on January 3rd.

Director Plummer entered the fire service in 1986 as a firefighter for the City of Dover, where he quickly progressed through the department, serving as a Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Chief, culminating as Chief of that department. He was appointed to his current post as Director of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services in May of 2011, overseeing the Fire Academy in Concord, fire training curriculum and certification, and the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. In that role he has been involved as part of the Department of Safety's team, along with Safety's other Division Directors, that has assisted Director Pope and the Governor in providing resources and assistance handling all emergency situations since that time.

"Maintaining the safety of New Hampshire's communities and citizens is the most important job of state government," said Governor-elect Hassan. "Chief Plummer's extensive background in public safety at both state and local levels will help ensure we are prepared for and able to respond quickly and effectively to any emergency that requires the resources of the state government. I thank Director Plummer for his willingness to accept this responsibility and look forward to working with him and Commissioner Barthelmes and the other members of Safety's team to continue to make New Hampshire a safer state."

Commissioner Barthelmes stated, "Since joining our management team, Director Plummer has quickly gained the confidence of my staff and me, and the fire and emergency medical service. His extensive experience at the helm during emergency situations in his hometown of Dover plus his ability to collaborate with a wide range of individuals and agencies, has prepared him very well to assume these duties. He has my full confidence."

As Acting Director of that Division, Plummer will oversee both the Bureau of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Emergency Management which coordinates the state's response to major disasters, and also the homeland security function of planning and training for criminal and terrorist attacks. He will also serve as the state's primary contact with the federal Department of Homeland Security and counterpart emergency management agencies in the other 49 states.

"Director Plummer will continue to be the Director of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services, providing oversight over the Division, and we are confident that the able staff of that Division will continue to provide the same excellent level of services to our first responders while the Director assumes these additional responsibilities," Commissioner Barthelmes said.